Nantahala Midnight Topher, brewed with local espresso

This specialty release uses a base stout to infuse with local Tribal Grounds Coffee espresso beans. Nantahala’s head brewer Chris White used to work as a barista. His past work with coffee beans inspired what he calls an “illicitly indulgent stout.”

The beans were introduced after primary fermentation, but before carbonation. This method gives the beer more iced coffee, roast and chocolate flavor, with less astringency, than adding coffee to the beer’s boil.

“Some coffee beers only have mild flavors or hints of coffee but that was not what I wanted. I was aiming for a robust coffee flavor with lots of roast character and I think I succeeded. This is the kind of coffee beer that I want to drink.“ – Chris White